Agitator



J. w. HUNT April 30, 1929.

AGITATOR Filed April 21. 1928 f 7% l JNVENTOR.

QVJWHUNT. B" Worm@Y ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED -STATES JOSEPH W. HUNT, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

AGITATOR.

Application led April 21,

This invention relates to improvements in agitators, and especially to folding agitators of the type used for mixing the contents of drums or barrels.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a folding agitator which may be readily inserted through the ordinary bunghole or opening in the end or side of a barrel or drum, and which may be actuated from the exterior of the drum to thoroughly mix the contents of the drum.

A further object is to furnish a folding agitator having arms of relatively short length in order to allow the agitator to be inserted in, and used with barrels or drums, in which the opening in the end of the barrel is at one side of the center.

Another object is to provide a combination agitator and plug for drums, in which the plug normally closes the opening in the head of a drum, but which, when detached from said head, will act as a handle for the agitator.

A still further object is to furnish an agitator of simple, inexpensive and durable construction, and one which may be attached to the inside of the stopper or plug, and transported along with the contents of the drum.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accom. panying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a drum with my improved agitator attached to the inside of the drum stopper or plug.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the agitator with the folded position of the arms of the agitator shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, 1 designates an ordinary metal drum containing, for instance, liquids 2 of different specific gravities. This drum has the usual head 3 provided with an opening 4, the wall of which is internally screw threaded.

In my invention, the threaded plug or stopper 5 which closes this opening, is combined with an agitator indicated generally at 6. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a chain 7 has its upper end secured to the stopper, and its lower end connected to 1928. Serial No. 271,915.

a ring 8 fastened to the upper end of a rod 9. A bolt 10 passes horizontally through Y this rod near the lower end of the latter, and functions as a pivot for foldable agitating arms 11. Each arm is preferably formed of sheet metal, and has upwardly extending flanges 12 at its side edges; these flanges being extendedat one end to form ears 13, through which the pin 9 passes. As shown at 14, 1n dotted lines, the arms, when folded upwardly against the rod 9, may be inserted through the hole 4 of the drum, and all that is necessary to do to remove the agitator from the drum, is to raise the agitator to a point near the top of the drum, bring the end of one of the arms firmly against the side of the drum, and hold it there while the agitator is moved down about the length of the blade thus bringing the blade up against the handle or tube, next proceed to draw agitator from the drum with the folded blade resting on top of the tube. In this manner, the device can be easily removed from the drum, without the aid of any tool whatever.

In the use of the invention, I may place the agitator in the drum after the latter has been filled, and the stopper 5 will plug the drum. Then, whenever it is necessary or desirable to agitate the contents of the barrel, the operator simply unscrews the plug 5, and works the same up and down. Due to this, the contents of the drum may be thoroughly mixed.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood, and I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An agitator, comprising a supporting rod, a pivot pin carried by the rod, and relatively movable arms pivctally mounted on said pin, each arm having a pair of ears engaging the pin.

2. An agitator for use with drums or the like, comprising a supporting rod, a pivot pin carried by the rod, and relatively movable foldable arms mounted on said pin and bearing at their inner ends against opposite sides of the rod, each arm being of channel shape and having a pair of ears at one end engaging said pin.

3. An agitator includinga supporting rod,

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a handle operatively connected to the upper end of the supporting rod, :t pin mounted on the rod above the lower end of the latter and having ends projecting from opposite Sides 5 of the rod, and arms arranged on opposite sides of the rod and having upwardly extendw ing ears pivotally mounted on the pin, the

inner ends of the mns abutting aga-inst the rod for preventingl the :1l-me from folding downwardly below a. Certain elevation relutvely to the rod.

1n testimony whereof 11e has zl'ixed his signature.

JOSEPH V. HUNT. 

